Political Science and Economic Students Inducted into Honor Societies

Political Science and Economic Honor Societies

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on April 21, 2022, No Comments

On April 15, East Stroudsburg University’s department of political science and economics held the joint induction ceremony for the Iota Chi Chapter of the Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society) and the Alpha Xi Chapter of the Omicron Delta Epsilon (International Honor Society of Economics). At the ceremony, Pennsylvania State Representative Maureen Madden delivered the keynote speech. Madden currently represents Pennsylvania’s 115th Legislative District. In her speech, she explained the key role of public universities in our community and discussed the challenges they face today. She also highlighted the significance of higher education experiences in the formation of professional careers. Interim President Kenneth Long and Provost Margaret Ball also delivered remarks during the ceremony.

The ceremony recognized the academic achievements of the most outstanding students studying political science and economics. The membership criteria for the Iota Chi Chapter of the Pi Sigma Alpha for undergraduate students is completion of a minimum of 12 credits in political science, an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, and a major GPA of 3.5 or better. Graduate students enrolled in degree programs of political science must have an overall GPA of 3.5 or better. The membership criteria for the Alpha Xi Chapter of the Omicron Delta Epsilon for undergraduate students is completion of a minimum of 12 credits in economics, an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, and a major GPA of 3.0 or better.

A total of seven new members were inducted for the Iota Chi Chapter of the Pi Sigma Alpha: Lisa M. Cantor, a senior majoring in political science from Bushkill, Pa.; Trenton Clifford, a graduate student studying political science from Pottstown, Pa.; Jaslynn Cruz, a graduate student studying political science, management and leadership from Bethlehem, Pa.; James J. Gregory, a senior majoring in political science from East Stroudsburg, Pa.; Kehinde Ige, a graduate student studying political science, management and leadership from Iagos, Nigeria; Jared Namnun, a junior majoring in political science from Delran, N.J.; and Matthew W. Protsko, a senior majoring in political science from East Stroudsburg, Pa.

There were two new members inducted to the Alpha Xi Chapter of the Omicron Delta Epsilon: Matthew V. Colon, a junior majoring in economics from Saylorsburg, Pa.; and
Jared S. Hansen, a senior majoring in economics from Newton, N.J.

In addition to induction into the honor societies, the department also recognized scholarship recipients. Alexandra Kossakowska , a sophomore majoring in political science from East Stroudsburg, Pa., and Laura Eelman, a junior majoring in political science from Bangor, Pa., were awarded the Dr. Anthony Gaglione Endowed Scholarship; Ivana Karataseva, a sophomore majoring in political science from East Stroudsburg, Pa., was awarded the Joseph J. McGee Memorial Endowed Scholarship; Sherin G. Paul, a junior majoring in biology from Castries, Saint Lucia, was awarded the Anna Quainoo International Student Annual Scholarship; Jared S. Hansen, a senior majoring in economics from Newton, N.J., was awarded the Constantinos Christofides Economics Annual Scholarship; Matthew V. Colon, a junior majoring in economics from Saylorsburg, Pa., received the Kenneth & Charlotte Starner Endowed Scholarship; and Aaron T. Zaso, a junior majoring in economics from Nazareth, Pa., received the Roger DeLarco ’80 Economic Research Endowed Scholarship.

Photos from the ceremony can be found on ESU’s Flickr album.

For more information about Iota Chi Chapter of the Pi Sigma Alpha contact Ko Mishima, Ph.D., professor of political science at (570) 422-3248 or email kmishima@esu.edu. For more information about Alpha Xi Chapter of the Omicron Delta Epsilon contact Todd Behr, associate professor of economics at (570) 422-3831 or email tbehr@esu.edu.